Carton divider

ABSTRACT

A carton divider is formed of a rectangular cardboard blank having a slit partially through the thickness of the blank and substantially centrally of the longitudinal dimension thereof. Perforations extend through the remaining thickness of the blank in the slit formed therein. Three equally spaced apart score lines are formed transversely of the slit and perforations. Upon folding the blank along the score lines and then parting the blank along the perforations in the region of the center score line by pulling on both sides of the perforated section, the cardboard blank is then folded into a cross-shaped divider unit. The apparatus for forming the same consists of a conveyor with a single cutting and perforating wheel which forms a slit and perforations in a single operation.

United States Patent 1 Sept. 11, 1973 Black CARTON DIVIDER [75]Inventor: Richard A. Black, Calumet City, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Bell Fibre Products Corporation,

Marion, Ind.

[22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 211,331

[52] US. Cl...., 229/15, 217/23, 229/42 [51] Int. CI.....' 365d 5/48[58] Field of Search 229/15, 42; 217/23, 217/33 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,646 8/1923 Larson. 229/DlG. 4

2,860,825 11/1958 Montgomery, ..'.,...229/42 3,317,111 5/1967 Black..229/15 1,860,567 5/1932 Boeye 22 9/15 2,593,092 4/1952 Bergstein........2l7/23 X 3,301,460 1/1967 Harrison ..229/15 3,384,289 5/1968 Grant.......229/l5 3,682,367 8/ l 972 Rohde ..229/l5 Primary Examiner DavisT. Moorhead Attorney-Roy H. Olson et al.

[57} ABSTRACT A carton divider is formed of a rectangular cardboardblank having a slit partially through the thickness of the blank andsubstantially centrally of the longitudinal dimension thereof.Perforations extend through the remaining thickness of the blank in theslit formed therein. Three equally spaced apart score lines are formedtransversely of the slit and perforations. Upon folding the blank alongthe score lines and then parting the blank along the perforations in theregion of the center score line by pulling on both sides of theperforated section, the cardboard blank is then folded into across-shaped divider unit. The apparatus for forming the same consistsof a conveyor with a single cutting and perforating wheel which forms aslit and perforations in a single operation.

3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEU sum 1 or 2 PATENTED I 3. 758 O 1 8sum 2 or 2 a .6. 3 V581 a,

CARTON DIVIDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesgenerally to a carton divider and cushion member and to a method andapparatus: for forming the same of a single rectangular carton blank.

In shipping cartons containing breakable or perishable items it issometimes desirable to-divide the shipping carton into cells so that afewer number of items are contained in each cell. The items arecushioned by the divider to prevent bumping or bruising or breaking bycontact or pressure'exerted by other items in the shipping container.One such' carton configuration is equally dividing up a square: cartoninto four equally dimensioned square cells. This is accomplished byforming a cross-shaped carton divider and cushion member which isinserted into the carton. Generally, cross-shaped carton dividersheretofore used are formed of two or more separate pieces of cardboard,one common type having mating half slits substantially centrally of thecardboard unit which slide into one another to form the cross-shapeddivider. However, this requires additional manipulation by the packerand only a single thickness of cardboard is afforded be tween theadjacent cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide a cross-shaped carton divider and cushion member formed of asingle carton blank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a crossshaped cartondivider which has a double thickness of cardboard in each of the wallsections formed thereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forautomatically forming cardboard blanks which have slits and perforationsformed therein so that the divider can be formed.

A feature of this invention is the use of a single slitter andperforating wheel which has a cutting portionextending about onediameter which cuts partially through the cardboard blank and aperforating portion which perforates the remaining thickness of the.cardboard blank in the slitted area so that the slit and perforationsare formed in a single operation.

Briefly, the carton divider of this invention is formed by a method ofcutting and scoring the cardboard blank BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container whereincross-shaped divider and cushion members are used and which areconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational, somewhat diagrammatic view of apparatus forconveying and forming cardboard blanks from which the divider is formedin accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view showing a fragmentaryportion of the slitter and perforating wheel of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view showing the scoring apparatus of this inventionwhich forms transverse score lines along the carton blank;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the slit, perforation and score lines of thecarton blank of this invention; and

FIGS. 9, l0, l1 and I2 illustrate the sequence of folding and parting ofthe carton blank of this invention to form the cross-shaped dividermember.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG.1, there is seen a divider and cushion member designated generally byreference numeral 10 which is positioned in a shipping container 12. Thedivider and cushion member 10 divides the carton l2into four equalareas, this being only for illustrative purposes and not a limitingfeature. Also, a pair of dividers l0 and 10a are in the container 12with a separating floor or sheet 14 positioned therebetween.

The divider and cushion I0 is constructed on the apparatus .15, as showngenerally in FIGS. 2 and 3. The apparatus is shown somewhatdiagrammatically and it will be understood that many changes to thestructure as shown can be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. Preferably the apparatus 15 includes a conveyor 16 formed ofa plurality of spaced apart rollers 18 for transporting a cardboardsheet designated generally by reference numeral 20. The cardboard sheet20 is cut up into blanks 21 which form the divider 10. As shown best inFIGS. 4 and 5, sheet 20 is a corrugated board comprising opposite sidesheets 20a and 20b secured to a central or fluted corrugated sheet orcore 200 in a known manner.

Most advantageously, a slitter and perforator wheel 22 is positioned onthe conveyor and adjacent a backup roller 24. The slitter and perforatorwheel 22 slits partially through the thickness of the cardboard 20 whilethe remaining thickness is perforated as indicated by reference numeral23. This is done in a single operation asshown herein, it beingunderstood that separateoperations, i.e., a separate slitter and aseparate perforator wheel, may be used. The sheet of cardboard 20 ishere shown as being wider than necessary to form the divider l0 andtherefore trimming cutters 26 and 28 are positionedon each'side of theslitter and perforator wheel 22 to trim the sheet to the desired widthto form the blank 21. l

l The divider blank" 21 has a predetermined length which can be selectedin accordance with the size of a shipping container into which thedivider is to be positioned. The desired length of a carton blank can besensed by suitable length sensing means, not shown, and actuating meanswill be controlled thereby to actuate a cutoff blade 30 against a backuppad 32 to sever the cardboard sheet into the proper lengths. The dividerblank 21 is then transported along the conveyor by a pair of pinchrollers 34 which grip the sheet on each side thereof and which aredrivingly rotated so as to transport a carton blank.

Once the carton blank has the slit partially through its thickness andperforations through the remaining thickness, the blank will then havescore lines formed therein, these score lines being represented byreference numerals 35, 37 and 39 and are formed by score wheel sets 36,38 and 40, respectively. The score lines 35, 37 and 39 are formedtransversely of the slit and perforations 23. As best seen in FIG. 6,the score wheel sets 36, 38 and 40 each comprise a narrow wheel 36a, 38aand 40a and a broad grooved wheel 36b, 38b and 40b. The score wheel sets36 and 40 form the outboard scores 35 and 39 near the end of the blankwhile the score wheel set 38 forms the center score 37. The score wheelsets are driven by common shafts 42 and 44 and they may be linked orgeared together for common rotation by a single drive unit as desired.

When the divider blank 21 is severed from the cardboard sheet by thecutter 30, it is transported onto a transverse unit which shifts thedirection of movement of the sheet transverse to its initial conveyingpath by a pair of transport means 46. An end wall 48 which stops thelongitudinal movement of the blank 21 may also include sensing means toinitiate energization of the transverse transport means 46 which willdirect the blank 21 in the score wheel sets.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the details of construction of theslitter and perforator wheel 22 and backup roller 24 are shown. Here theslitter and perforator wheel 22 include a slitting knife edge 220 abouta circumference thereof which passes only partially through thethickness of the cardboard sheet 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the knife edge22a cuts through the upper layer or sheet 20a and the corrugated core200. Extending from the knife cutting edge 220 are spaced aparttoothlike members 22b which extend completely through the cardboardsheet 20 to cause the perforations to be made through the bottom sheet20b of corrugated cardboard when such is used to form the blank 21.Therefore, the cardboard blank can be folded along the longitudinal axisthereof by bending the sheet upon itself and against the perforated wallwhile parting the slit upper wall. To insure that the perforations gocompletely through the bottom wall of the cardboard sheet 20, the backuproller 24 may have a resilient surface so that the teeth portions 22bwill embed slightly therein.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 the divider blank 21 has the two scorelines 35 and 39 near the ends thereof and the center score line, whichis on the opposite surface as that of the score lines 35 and 39, issubstantially centrally of the blank. The slit is shown in FIG. 7 anddesignated by reference numeral 23 while the perforations, on the othersurface of the blank 21, are shown in FIG. 8 and designated generally byreference numeral 23a. To bend the blank 21 and form the divider andcushion member 10 in accordance with this invention, the sequence ofsteps is illustrated diagrammatically by FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12. Forceis applied against the ends of the blank to cause the center and twooutboard score lines to fold the blank and form an upstanding portion50, this being shown in FIG. 10. The upstanding portion 50 has twosegments thereof, 50a and 50b, separated by the slit and perforated line23. Force is then applied to each of the upstanding segments 50a and 50bso as to part or tear the perforations of the upstanding portion 50while only folding back the slit and perforated portions along theoutboard tab portions 52 and 54, this being shown in FIG. 11. This thencauses the outboard portions 52 and 54 to be folded upon themselvesalong the perforated line 23 to form a crossshaped divider and cushionmember having a double thickness of corrguated cardboard forming eachwall section as shown in FIG. 12.

Accordingly, what has been described is a simple and efficient dividerand cushion member of unitary construction and method and apparatus forforming the same. While only a single embodiment of the apparatus isillustrated herein and only a single type of divider unit is shown, itwill be understood that variations and modifications of this inventionmay be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelconcepts disclosed and claimed herein.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A divider and cushion member for cartons and the like comprising incombination a rectangular corrugated cardboard blank including first andsecond opposite side sheets and a corrugated core sheet, a slit formedin the blank substantially centrally thereof and along the majordimension of the rectangle, said slit being only partially through thethickness of said blank, said slit being substantially entirely throughsaid first sheet and said core, perforations extending along the blankand in the slit to extend through the said second sheet, and score linesextending transversely of said slit and perforations and spaced apartwith two score lines being on said first sheet of the blank and thethird score line being on said second sheet of the blank, wherebyfolding the cardboard blank along said score lines and then parting theperforations in the region of the center score line to fold the blanklongitudinally upon itself will form a cross-shaped divider member'.

2. The divider and cushion member of claim 1 wherein said score linesare equally spaced from the ends and equally spaced from one another.

3. The divider and cushion member of claim 1 wherein said slit andperforations are formed substantially centrally of the cardboard blank.i t t t t

1. A divider and cushion member for cartons and the like comprising in combination a rectangular corrugated cardboard blank including first and second opposite side sheets and a corrugated core sheet, a slit formed in the blank substantially centrally thereof and along the major dimension of the rectangle, said slit being only partially through the thickness of said blank, said slit being substantially entirely through said first sheet and said core, perforations extending along the blank and in the slit to extend through the said second sheet, and score lines extending transversely of said slit and perforations and spaced apart with two score lines being on said first sheet of the blank and the third score line being on said second sheet of the blank, whereby folding the cardboard blank along said score lines and then parting the perforations in the region of the center score line to fold the blank longitudinally upon itself will form a cross-shaped divider member.
 2. The divider and cushion member of claim 1 wherein said score lines are equally spaced from the ends and equally spaced from one another.
 3. The divider and cushion member of claim 1 wherein said slit and perforations are formed substantially centrally of the cardboard blank. 